EUGENE WEDOFF, Bankruptcy Judge
TOTAL FEES REQUESTED: $15,993.00 TOTAL COSTS REQUESTED: $1,199.37 TOTAL FEES REDUCED: $1,100.00 TOTAL COSTS REDUCED: $0.00 TOTAL FEES ALLOWED: $14,893.00 TOTAL COSTS ALLOWED: $1,199.37 TOTAL FEES AND COSTS ALLOWED: $16,092.37 THE COURT HAS MARKED THE ATTACHED TIME AND EXPENSE ENTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN DISALLOWED IN WHOLE OR IN PART. THE BASIS FOR EACH DISALLOWANCE IS DISCLOSED BY THE NUMERICAL NOTATION THAT APPEARS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF EACH HIGHLIGHTED ENTRY. THE NUMERICAL NOTATIONS REFER TO THE ENUMERATED PARAGRAPHS BELOW.
(1) Clerical Work Not Compensable
The court disallows the compensation of clerical or stenographic employees of the professional for the performance of routine clerical or administrative activities in the normal course of the professional's business, such as photocopying, secretarial work, or routine filing. Such activities are not in the nature of professional services and must be absorbed by the applicant's firm as an overhead expense. In re Dimas, LLC, 357 B.R. 563, 577 (Bankr. N.D. Cal. 2006) (citing Missouri v. Jenkins, 491 U.S. 274, 288 n. 10 (1989)). See also In re Chellino, 209 B.R. 106, 114 (Bankr. C.D. Ill. 1996) (Paralegal, but not "clerk" services entitled to compensation at an hourly rate; clerk activities are overhead of the professional); Souza v. Miguel, 32 F.3d 1370, 1375 (9th Cir. 1994) (Trustee not entitled to reimbursement or compensation of overhead expenses such as secretarial, stenographic, clerical, and routine messenger services).
(2) No Benefit to the Estate
The court denies requests for fees relating to services that do not benefit the estate or that are not necessary to the administration of the case. 11 U.S.C. § 330(a)(4)(A). An attorney's internal work prior to retention to determine whether the attorney's firm satisfies the disinterestedness requirement of section 327 of the Bankruptcy Code does not provide benefit to the estate and is not compensable.
Dated: April 6, 2010 Forrest L. Ingram, P.C. Compass Attorneys and Counsellors 79 W. Monroe, Suite 900 Chicago, IL 60603-4907 Date Nature Item Atty Time Fee 12/14/09 Admin inputted information on bestcase for filing, sent to client to review VC 0.9 $157.50 12/14/09 Admin filed Ch 11 case, emailed client re: same and schedule due date VC 0.4 $70.00 12/15/09 Admin Review documents faxed by client relating to various items of litigation. FLI 0.2 $88.00 12/15/09 Admin Spoke with MW and sent email re setting up DIP account and complying with other FLI 0.2 $88.00 instructions from trustee. 12/15/09 Admin Spoke with MW re four suits filed against the company. FLI 0.2 $88.00 12/15/09 Admin Draft initial case management sheet. FLI 0.1 $44.00 12/16/09 Admin Drafted letter to Paul O'Keefe re: bankrutpcy petition PG 0.6 $105.00 12/16/09 Admin Drafted letter to Daniel Leadly re: bankrutpcy petition PG 0.6 $105.00 12/16/09 Admin Drafted letter to Jennifer L Dunitz-Geiringer re: bankrutpcy petition PG 0.6 $105.00 12/16/09 Admin Drafted letter to William P. Callinan re: bankrutpcy petition PG 0.6 $105.00 12/16/09 Admin emailed client re: DIP Accounts VC 0.1 $17.50 12/21/09 Admin Schedule IDI and 341 meeting on calendar. FLI 0.1 $44.00 12/21/09 Admin spoke to client re: schedules and DIP account VC 0.1 $17.50 12/22/09 Admin Researching union strikes during bankruptcy Clerk2 0.8 $72.00 12/22/09 Admin phone call with client re: Pipe Fitts Assn withdrawal of employees VC 0.1 $17.50 12/22/09 Admin direct Brad on research on labor unions in bky VC 0.1 $17.50 12/28/09 Admin Drafting motion to extend deadline to file schedules Clerk2 1.0 $90.00 12/28/09 Admin Scanning and filing motion to extend deadline to file schedules Clerk2 0.3 $27.00 12/28/09 Admin Review and revise motion to extend time to file original schedules. FLI 0.1 $44.00 12/28/09 Admin directed Brad on motion to extend time to file schedules VC 0.1 $17.50 12/28/09 Admin reviewed motion to extend time to file schedules VC 0.2 $35.00 12/28/09 Admin spoke with client re: current issues VC 0.1 $17.50 1/4/10 Admin prepared proposed order and filed motion to implement changes to collective VC 0.3 $53 bargaining agreement filed and served the same 1/5/10 Admin Spoke with VC re IDI meeting. FLI 0.1 $45.00 1/5/10 Admin Meeting with client in prep of IDI MOV 0.2 $44.00 1/5/10 Admin Appeared at IDI MOV 0.5 $110.00 1/21/10 Admin Spoke with MW and MO re 341 meeting, questions by trustee, and agreement with FLI 0.3 $135.00 bank re cash collateral. 1/22/10 Admin Printing and mailing out copies of Motion authorizing use of cash collateral Clerk2 3.0 $270.00 1/22/10 Admin Preparation and filing of December disbursement summary PG 0.2 $39.00 1/25/10 Admin Spoke with IDES re changing the address. Direct MO to do same. FLI 0.1 $45.00 1/25/10 Admin Spoke with MO re status of case. FLI 0.1 $45.00 1/25/10 Admin amended schedules VC 0.3 $58.50 1/25/10 Admin fled amended schedules, declarations, other required docs VC 0.5 $97.50 1/25/10 Admin called Judge Wedoff's clerk to arrange times for motions to be heard and to strike VC 0.1 $19.50 hearing 1/26/10 Admin phone call to opp counsel (Sherman Sherman) re: Ford Motor Credit MOV 0.1 $22.00 1/27/10 Admin On the phone with Mike W. and Mike Ohiman regarding Compass Clerk2 0.3 $27.00 1/28/10 Admin Picking up CD trinscript at Dirksen Clerk2 0.4 $36.00 2/1/10 Admin phone call to C Purcell re: Ford Credit's motion to lift the stay MOV 0.1 $22.00 2/2/10 Admin Prepare for court and court appearance re status. FLI 0.5 $225.00 2/2/10 Admin Attorney Conference with PG and FLI re: motion for sanctions MOV 0.3 $66.00 2/2/10 Admin Prepartation for Court: Status and Pipefitters issues PG 0.3 $58.50 2/2/10 Admin Court Appearance: case status, pipefitters union's violaiton of the automatic stay PG 0.7 $136.50 2/5/10 Admin Delivery of courtesey copy of motion for sanctions to judge Clerk2 0.4 $36.00 2/5/10 Admin Prepared letter to Judge Zagel with courtesy copies — faxed the same to opposing MOV 0.3 $66.00 counsel 2/5/10 Admin Phone call to co-counsel re: District Court Case, follow-up email re: same MOV 0.3 $66.00 2/5/10 Admin phone call to client MW re: open issues: IL dep of rev, union issues, motion for MOV 0.2 $44.00 sanctions 2/8/10 Admin Picking up transcript from Jackie DeFini's Office Clerk2 0.4 $36.00 2/12/10 Admin prepared letter to IL Dept of Rev. re: automatic stay — faxed letter to T. Baldwin MOV 0.3 $66.00 2/15/10 Admin Spoke with MO re motions that need to be filed in the case. FLI 0.2 $90.00 2/16/10 Admin Phone call with client re: Union issues — motion for sanctions and settlement MOV 0.3 $66.00 2/16/10 Admin Phone call with client re: outstanding issues: hiring new employees, operating MOV 0.1 $22.00 reports etc. 2/18/10 Admin Drafting certificate of service for order for claims bar date Clerk2 0.2 $18.00 2/18/10 Admin Mailing out order for claims bar date to creditors Clerk2 2.0 $180.00 1/20/10 CashC conference w/ MO re: current issues re: cash collateral VC 0.6 $117.00 1/26/10 CashC Spoke with MO re entry of inteerim cash collateral order. Discuss opposition of FLI 0.1 $45.00 Pipefitters' Union. 1/26/10 CashC Entered order re: cash collateral MOV 0.6 $132.00 2/17/10 CashC Conference with MO re court approval of final cash collateral order. FLI 0.1 $45.00 1/14/10 CM spoke to Jeff Krol re: Dec contributions to Local 597 VC 0.1 $19.50 1/14/10 CM email to Will Calinan re: contributions to Local 597 VC 0.1 $19.50 1/14/10 CM spoke to Jeff Krol re: Dec contributions to Local 597 VC 0.1 $19.50 1/14/10 CM reviewed letter of understanding with local 597, sent same to client for comments VC 0.1 $19.50 1/20/10 CM Appearance in court on bank's motion for order barring cash collateral — hearing MOV 0.5 $110.00 date set for motion to lift stay 1/20/10 CM Atty Conference with opposing counsel re: cash collateral order and other MOV 0.2 $44.00 outstanding issues with secured lender 1/21/10 CM Review motion to enter agreed order; discuss with MO. FLI 0.1 $45.00 1/26/10 CM Spoke with MO re Pipefitters' motion to amend complaint in US District Court. FLI 0.2 $90.00 Discuss motion for sanctions against union. 1/26/10 CM Continued 341 conference — meeting with client re: same MOV 1.1 $242.00 1/26/10 CM Reviewed Motion re: amend ND complaint — spoke with client re: same MOV 0.4 $88.00 1/27/10 CM Reviewed the Motion to Amend and Amended Complaint in the ND case filed by MOV 0.3 $66.00 Local 597 1/27/10 CM Phone call with client re: motion to amend and amended complaint filed by Local MOV 0.2 $44.00 597 2/2/10 CM Spoke with MO and PG re union's attempt to pierce the corporate veil in U.S. FLI 0.2 $90.00 District Court case; dismuss motion for sanctions. 2/2/10 CM Drafted Outline and facts section for Motion for Sanctions — additional research re: MOV 2.4 $528.00 sec. 541 claims 2/3/10 CM Spoke with MO re motion for sanctions against Pipefitters. FLI 0.1 $45.00 2/3/10 CM Drafted Motion for Sanctions — sections II, III and IV. Reviewed dockets for MOV 4.3 $946.00 information 2/4/10 CM Review and revise motion for sanctions against Pipefitters. FLI 1.0 $450.00 2/4/10 CM Edited and Revised Motion for Sanctions MOV 2.3 $506.00 2/4/10 CM Organized exhibits and Prepared Notice of Filing MOV 0.8 $176.00 2/5/10 CM Sign appeaance for US District court case; reiew email from MO to other attorneys FLI 0.1 $45.00 in the case. 2/5/10 CM Filed Motion for Sanctions with service list MOV 0.4 $88.00 2/9/10 CM Obtain report from MO re court hearing on motion for sanctions against FLI 0.3 $135.00 Pipefitter's union. Discuss options going forward. 2/9/10 CM Reviewed pleading — motion for sanctions for hearing MOV 0.4 $88.00 2/9/10 CM Appeared in Court on Motion for Sanctions MOV 1.0 $220.00 2/9/10 CM Reviewed correspondence from opp counsel (J. Krol) re: motion for sanctions MOV 0.1 $22.00 2/9/10 CM Prepared response to letter from opp counsel (J. Krol) re: motion for sanctions and MOV 0.3 $66.00 unacceptable offer — faxed and mailed the same 2/10/10 CM Conference with MO re motion for sanctions against Pipefitters Union, and FLI 0.1 $45.00 readiness of union to pay attorney fees. 2/12/10 CM Prepared Motion to set claims bar date and order — filed the same MOV 0.5 $110.00 2/15/10 CM Review and revise motion to vacate order lifting the stay for Ford Motor Credit FLI 0.1 $45.00 2/15/10 CM Prepared Motion for an extension to file the DS P MOV 0.4 $88.00 2/15/10 CM Prepared Motion to Vacate relief from stay (Ford Motor Credit) MOV 0.5 $110.00 2/15/10 CM Revised and Filed Motion to Vacate Order granting relief from stay MOV 0.2 $44.00 2/17/10 CM appeared in court on claims bar date and cash collateral order MOV 1.6 $352.00 2/18/10 CM email to counsel at J K re: letter of settlement (reviewed their correspondence MOV 0.1 $22.00 and responded) 2/23/10 CM Give instructions to MO re responding to motion to lift stay. FLI 0.1 $45.00 2/24/10 CM Appeared in court on Motion to vacate lifting of stay and app to employ MOV 1.3 $286.00 2/4/10 Cred Proofread motion for sanctions and to enforce the automatic stay PG 0.4 $78.00 2/3/10 DS P Review court order re filing plan; spoke with MO and VC re same. FLI 0.1 $45.00 2/11/10 DS P Spoke with MO re preparing a plan. FLI 0.1 $45.00 2/15/10 DS P Meet with MO re disclosure statement and plan. FLI 0.1 $45.00 2/15/10 DS P Review and revise motion to extend time to file the disclosure statement and plan. FLI 0.1 $45.00 2/15/10 Employ Review and revise application to employ counsel. FLI 0.2 $90.00 2/15/10 Employ Prepared Motion to employ — Affidavit and Proposed Order MOV 0.7 $154.00 2/2/10 Fin Spoke with Mary McGuire and MO re possible funding for Compass' chapter 11 FLI 0.2 $90.00 case. 1/21/10 Pre-tr Prepared motion and service for cash collateral MOV 0.8 $176 12/22/09 Resrch researched effects of bankruptcy on labor union VC 0.8 $140.00 12/29/09 Resrch researched issue of striking union in bky VC 1.2 $210.00 1/4/10 Resrch researched motions under 1113(e) VC 0.6 $117.00 2/8/10 Resrch Researched 1113 requirements and factors MOV 1.5 $330.00 1/5/10 Trste meet with Mike W. beforehand to prep for IDI VC 0.3 $58.50 1/5/10 Trste attended IDI VC 0.5 $97.50 1/21/10 Trste 341 Meeting — meetin before and after 341 to discuss the conference and MOV 3.1 $682.00 necessary steps to confirm plan 1/21/10 Trste attended 341 VC 1.1 $214.50 1/27/10 Trste reviewed fax, called trial atty at UST for information re: insurance forms, prepared MOV 0.3 $66.00 correspondence to US Trustee with insurance information and notice party 2/17/10 Tx Spoke with MO re settlement discussions between client and IRS. FLI 0.2 $90.00 12/29/09 Union spoke with Todd Miller re: 09 C 5080 VC 0.1 $17.50 12/30/09 Union Discuss with VC his research re union benefits unpaid prior to chapter 11 filing. FLI 0.2 $88.00 12/30/09 Union Direct VC to set up meeting with MW on Saturday to discuss problems with union. FLI 0.1 $44.00 12/30/09 Union spoke on phone w/ Mike re: union issues VC 0.3 $52.50 12/30/09 Union spoke with counsel from local 597 re: union issues VC 0.2 $35.00 12/30/09 Union conference with FLI re: union issues VC 0.2 $35.00 1/2/10 Union Meet with MW and VC re possible rejection of union contract, § 1113 FLI 1.0 $450.00 requirements, and motion for immediate relief. 1/2/10 Union conference w/ FLI and Mike W. re: Union issues VC 1.0 $195.00 1/4/10 Union Review and approve motion to alter termorarily the terms of the collective FLI 0.2 $90.00 bargaining agreement 1/4/10 Union drafted and revised motion to implement changes to collective bargaining VC 1.4 $273.00 agreement pursuant to 1113(e) 1/5/10 Union Spoke with VC re agreement of Pipe Fitters Union, with Compass's approval, to FLI 0.1 $45.00 direct union employee to return to work without the need to compel an alteration in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.